Flexible deflector for exhaust pipes of automobiles and the like



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FLEXIBLE DEFLECTOR FOR EXHAUST PIPES OF AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Trent M. Di Renna, East Orange, N. J. Application December 15, 1947, Serial N0. 791,875

(Cl. 13S-4.6.5)

Claims. 1

My invention relates to a flexible deflector for exhaust pipes of automobiles and the like.

The exhaust pipes of most automobiles terminate forwardly of the rear bumper, so that they are not liable to be struck by the bumper of another car, or by some stationary object. This arrangement is adhered to in order to prevent damage to the exhaust pipe and muffler. A disadvantage of this arrangement is the resulting Acorroding and discoloring of the rear end of the automobile, and particularly the chrome plated bumper, due to the exhaust fumes expelled from the exhaust pipe. Accordingly, many exhaust deflectors are available to deect smoke and fumes away from the rear end of the car body and bumper. These devices, however, extend rearwardly beyond the bumper and are rigid, so that when they are struck, bending of the exhaust pipe and damage to the muffler often results. It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide an exhaust pipe deflector which has a flexible universal connection with the exhaust pipe, and will yield when struck from any direction, without causing damage to the exhaust pipe or muffler.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible exhaust pipe deflector designed to fit any standard make of car, and which is practical and inexpensive to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned class which is simple, comprising few parts, and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawingsvforming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the deflector embodying the invention and showing the same applied to an exhaust pipe,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section, taken on line 3-3 of Figure l,

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the device as shown in Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I0 designates the rear or outermost portion of an automobile exhaust pipe. ,Detachably mounted upon the exhaust pipe I0 near `the outer end of the same is a generally cylindrical forward casing section II`, which may be formed of sheet metal with its longitudinal edges secured together by a stove pipe joint I2. The casing section II is provided in its upper portion with inwardly formed lugs i3, which are longitudinally and transversely spaced, as shown. At its forward end, the longitudinal edges of the casing section I I are separated and extend downwardly forming apertured ears I4, which are adjustably connected by a bolt I5. The casing section I I has circumferentially extending slots I 6 adjacent to the apertured ears Ill, as shown. A spring il is provided, which is generally U- shaped, including a curved top portion i8 and curved arms I9. The arms I9 are disposed forwardly of the slots I6, and are secured to the casing section I'I by suitable means such as spot welding. The spring I'I is arranged diametricaL- ly opposite the forward pair of lugs I3 and exn tends from the forward end of casing section II to the slots I6.

The exhaust pipe deflector further comprises a rear cylindrical casing section 2i), preferably formed of sheet metal, having 'its marginal edges secured together by a stove pipejoint 2|. The rear casing section 2i) is continued rearwardly in the form of an extension 22, which flares rearwardly to project laterally beyond the casing section 20. The extension 22 is spherically curved and has its bottom open, Figures 2 and 3. The extension 22 has rearwardly diverging side edges 23, and a curved transverse end edge 2li.

Slidably mounted within the casing sections II and 20 is a retractile coil spring 25, having its forward end attached to casing section II by any suitable means, such as bending the end of the spring into a hook 25, and passing the hook outwardly through an aperture in the casing section I I. The rear end of spring 25 may be attached to the casing section 20 in a similarv manner by passing a hook 2l formed upon the Aspring 25 through an aperture in the casing section 2li. The meeting edges 28 are cut at right angles to the central longitudinal axes of the casing sections Il and 20. The spring 25 is under tension to hold these meeting edges in engagement and parallel relation, yso that the central longitudinal axes of the casing sections I I and 20 normally coincide and form a straight line. The retractile coil spring 25 also functions as a ilexible universal coupling between the casing sections II and 2D, prevent any perceptible relative movement between the same under normal conditions.

'In use, with the casing sections H and 2i) assembled, as shown, the casing section li is applied to the rear end of exhaust pipe lil, which may extend substantially to the spring 25, or project slightly into the same. The pairs of lugs i3 hold the top of the casing section l i spaced from the exhaust pipe l, the lower side of which engages within the curved top portion i3 of spring i1. The bolt I5 is now tightened, and the exhaust pipe l is clamped between the elements i3 and l1, and the casing section il is held in spaced eccentric relation to the exhaust pipe I0, Figure 4. The retractile coil spring 25 being under tension, holds the casing sec-tion 2li so that its central longitudinal axis and the central longitudinal axis of casing section Il are in alignment, and form a straight line. Particular attention is called to the fact that the spring 25 between its ends is slidable within the casing sections II and 20, so that it will quickly return the casing section 20 to the normal position when moved therefrom and released. Further, the rbore 0f the coil spring 25 is greater than the bore of exhaust pipe I0, and the attachment will in no way create back pressure in the exhaust pipe.

When the spherically curved extension 22 is struck, its flexible or resilient connection of its casing section 20 with the casing section il will permit the same to yield laterally, thus preventing injury to the exhaust pipe Hl. pressure is removed from the extension 2Q, the `spring 25 will return it to the normal position. The spring 25 and meeting edges 28 aiord a universal connection between casing sections l! and 28, so that the spherically curved extension 22 may yield in all lateral directions, and this movement is aided by the spherical curvature of extension 22.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be ,taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A flexible deilector for exhaust pipes, comprising forward and rear casing sections arranged in end-to-end relation, a retractil@ coil spring engaging the casing sections and forming a flex- ;iple connection between them and serving to hold the rear casing section in a selected position with respect to the forward casing section and to return the same to such position when moved laterally from the selected position and released, and means to secure the forward casing section upon the exhaust pipe.

When the f 2. A flexible deector for exhaust pipes, comprising forward and rear casing sections arranged in end-to-end relation and including transverse opposed meeting edges, a retractile coil spring engaging the casing sections to form a flexible universal connection between them and serving to normally hold the meeting edges in engagement, and means to secure the forward casing sections upon the exhaust pipe.

3. A flexible deflector ,for exhaust pipes, comprising forward and rear casing sections arranged in end-to-end relation, a retractile coil spring arranged within the casing sections and having its ends attached to the same and forming a flexible connection between the casing sections, the spring being tensioned for holding the rear casing section in a selected position with respect to the forward casing section and to return the same to such position when moved laterally from the selected position and released, and adjustable means to secure the forward casing section upon the exhaust pipe.

4. A exible deector for exhaust pipes, comprising forward and rear casing sections having opposed meeting ends, the rear casing section including a spherically curved portion, a retractile coil spring arranged within the casing sections and extending across the meeting ends and having its opposite ends attached to such casing sections, the spring forming a iiexible connection between the casing sections and serving to hold the meeting ends together and opposed tilting movement of the rear casing section with relation to the forward c-asing section.

5. A flexible deflector for exhaust pipes, coinprising forward and rear casing sections having meeting ends, the rear casing section having a spherically curved rear end extension, a retractile coil .spring arranged within the casing sections and extending across the meeting ends and having its ends secured to such casing sections, the spring forming a flexible universal connection between the casing sections and being tensioned to hold the meeting ends together, and adjustable clamping means mounted upon the forward easing section for engaging the exhaust pipe and serving to connect the flexible deflector thereto.

TRENT M. DI RENNA.

REFERENCES CITED The 'following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 792,913 Mulconroy June 20, 1905 2,232,395 Koch Feb. 18, 1941 

